Sengezo Tshabangu has stated that he will not be removed from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), rejecting his suspension by Acting party President, Professor Welshman Ncube furthering the opposition party’s turmoil.
Tshabangu who is now leader of the opposition in Parliament after proclaiming himself as the CCC secretary general, described Prof Ncube as an ordinary party member with no authority to be making such leadership decisions.
This ‘back and forth’ in the CCC has raised questions about its ability to challenge Zanu PF’s governance effectively, as critics argue the opposition party has spent more time on infighting than addressing issues such as economic reforms, service delivery or even opposing Zanu PF.
Tshabangu’s suspension was announced shortly after a High Court ruling against him on Wednesday, exposing deep divisions within what is termed as Zimbabwe’s main opposition party.
The High Court ruling in case HCH 5606/24 delivered on January 8, 2025, by Judge, Justice Neville Wamambo, barred Tshabangu from making changes to the party’s parliamentary leadership after an urgent application filed by Prof Ncube, who argued Tshabangu lacked the authority to reassign Members of Parliament and accused him of backdoor recalls.
Justice Wamambo said Prof Ncube’s application relied on an earlier High Court case where Justice Tawanda Chitapi in HC 6872/23 had said that Tshabangu’s recall actions were “unlawful and invalid.”
Thereafter Prof Ncube moved swiftly to suspend Tshabangu, accusing him of contravening the party’s constitution.
Presidential spokesperson, Kurauone Chihwayi, confirmed the suspension in a statement, emphasising that it was with immediate effect.
However, Tshabangu has hit back, challenging Ncube’s authority to suspend him, with his legal representative, Nqobani Sithole saying they received no formal communication in that regard. “What I know is there is a legal opinion that we communicated with the party to the extent that there is no president in the meantime because Prof Ncube’s term of office expired,” Sithole said in an interview with CITE.
Sithole said they had communicated a “very comprehensive and well reasoned opinion” to the CCC that Prof Ncube is not the party president.
“Welshman was also included when we communicated. He is not the acting president but masquerading as one,” Sithole said, underlining that Tshabangu remains the party’s secretary general and leader of the opposition in Parliament.
“As it stands, Tshabangu is still the secretary general of the party and leader of the opposition in Parliament for all we know. We are going to get formal instructions but the position as we communicate it is there is no acting president.”
Sithole explained that Prof Ncube was initially going to act for three months on a rotational basis as the party president after he was appointed last year in February.
“The rotation never happened and the five years for holding the party’s congress have expired and surely he cannot all by himself purport to continue in contravention of their own constitution,” he said.
“It is not a wise idea to purport to suspend somebody whilst you are also limping in terms of your position. His standing is limping.”
Sithole also announced plans to appeal Justice Wamambo’s High Court ruling at the Supreme Court.
“We have been instructed to appeal the High Court ruling, There are certain internal issues being attended to and soon after that we will be given the greenlight to proceed with our client that is CCC has advised that an appeal should be filed at Supreme Court,” said Tshabangu’s legal representative.
The CCC’s internal squabbles have drawn criticism from political analysts and commentators, who argue the party is failing to focus on its primary role as the opposition to Zanu PF.
Critical studies scholar, Dr Khanyile Mlotshwa, described the CCC situation as “politics through lawfare,” suggesting the suspension and ensuing legal battles could turn into a vicious cycle.
“The opposition party needs a rest from all this so that it can do the actual job of opposing Zanu PF,” Mlotshwa remarked.
“We wait to see if Ncube’s suspension of Tshabangu will, indeed, take effect, that is if at all Tshabangu will submit and go away from the party quietly without approaching the courts and making this a vicious cycle of politics through lawfare.”
Dr Mlotshwa warned that continued infighting would only benefit Zanu PF.
“The CCC must resolve its leadership issues quickly and refocus on its role as the opposition. Failure to do so risks alienating voters and strengthening the ruling party’s grip on power,” he said.
Political analyst, Mxolisi Ncube, was more scathing in his assessment, accusing the CCC of ideological bankruptcy and internal greed.
“The MDC CCC in all its manifestations has proved beyond doubt that it is nothing more than Zanu PF using a false identity, Zimbabwean problems might get even worse,” he said.
“I find it quite worrying that the MDC CCC has once again proved that politics without ideology is useless. Due to its ideological bankruptcy, the MDC CCC has since 2000 betrayed Zimbabweans, who have trusted with their votes, through poor service delivery in especially the urban centres, shifting blame to Zanu PF and through involvement in corrupt activities.”
Ncube said the CCC’s greedy leaders have been “so good at investing their time and energy in internal squabbles rather than challenging the status quo, making sure the economy improves and Zimbabwean people get their dignity back.”
“Zimbabwean voters need to look beyond these greedy and selfish individuals who have been in the opposition ranks since 2000. We need new names and a paradigm shift.”
